Nagatomo looks to regain favour

Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo wants more first team football after a good performance as a substitute in their 2-1 over Siena on Wednesday.

With his team trailing 1-0 after an early goal from Gaetano D’Agostino, the 25-year-old Japanese international entered the match in the 38th minute following an injury to defender Walter Samuel, with instructions from manager Andrea Stramaccioni to attack.

Inter drew level just before half-time thanks to Diego Milito’s strike and that was where the score stayed until the 81st minute, when Nagatomo was pulled down inside the box.

The referee immediately awarded a penalty kick, which Milito converted to give the hosts the 2-1 victory.

“I was able to get my body in there first,” Nagatomo told reporters after the match. “I absolutely wanted to get the ball, and it’s good that I was able to turn that into a result.”

The appearance was Nagatomo’s first since Inter’s 2-0 loss at Juventus on March 25, the last for Claudio Ranieri, who was replaced by Stramaccioni in the following week.

“Even though it only feels like it’s been a moment (since losing my starting role), I can’t relax,” Nagatomo said of the battle to regain his regular position.

“In these conditions, I’ve reaffirmed that I absolutely have to work harder.”